August 15, 2021

Book Of Acts- The Demonstration Power Of God

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We as the church are the Book of Acts 29. It’s not written yet because it’s not done yet; we get to live it out. As we look at the Book of Acts, let’s look at it not just historically but as what is possible for God to do today.

“Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭3:1-11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

After this healing, another man was healed from 40 years of being unable to walk. This eventually lead to Peter and John being imprisoned.

Peter had a drastic change from the time of denying Jesus to now being bold and empowered for Jesus by the Holy Spirit. This was possible by the upper room encounter and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8).

They were baptized in the power of the Holy Spirit; God took up residence in the heart of Man. The Holy Spirit then gave them boldness.

The Old Testament prophets and people had visitations of the Holy Spirit. The New Testament believers have the habitation of the Holy Spirit. Jesus brought the Kingdom through the power of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 4:20)

The working of the Holy Spirit that worked through Jesus was now also in Peter and John. Things changed for those they healed because they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

They could not stop talking about Jesus and the people could see they had been with Jesus. Even with persecutions, they asked for more boldness to extend the Kingdom of God (Acts 4:29).

If we want to see an early church move of God, we need to see what the church did that helped facilitate it. We need to contend for the move of the Holy Spirit.

When the baptism of the Holy Spirit comes, it changes the heart if man. In the darkest moments of Israel at that time, the answer of God was the church of God. It still is the answer.

God had a plan for the Book of Acts. God will often choose a man and woman for His plan to display His power in these darkest times. God is not a secret to be kept but the answer to be given away. (Matt 5: 13-14). God wants to put us on display to show the move of the Holy Spirit through us; to shine in the darkness (John 1:5).

The Gospel is the good news. It is not the good news until it is spoken and demonstrated in the power of the Holy Spirit in every day life. Jesus always taught about the Kingdom and demonstrated the power of the Holy Spirit.

God is inviting us to encounter Him so that we can learn to trust Him.

3 Effects of the Power of God that is in you

The power of God demonstrates…

1. The power of God inside you.

When we become most aware of the Kingdom of God inside of us, we emanate and demonstrate the Kingdom of God.

2. Not only that God is real, but that He is near.

When we demonstrate the power of God, He is made real to those around us and that He is near.

3. The nature and character of the Father.

The encounters with God and what He does reveals the nature and character of God, who is good and merciful.

4. The authority of Jesus to save.

The miracles of the move of the Holy Spirit is not just for the church but for the harvest of souls. We need to bring the world to the person of Jesus.

Jesus is the answer. Like in the book of Acts, we as believers need to step out in faith and expect God to move. Are we willing to contend for that power of God to hit our communities?

The power of God and the Gospel brings salvation. All of heaven is looking at us to see what we will do with the power of Holy Spirit inside us. Faith moves heaven and moves God. And heaven invades and changes impossible situations.